Former judge to head new Vic parole board

FORMER Victorian Supreme Court justice Bill Gillard QC will be the first full-time chair of the state's parole board.

Mr Gillard will head the new-look Adult Parole Board and is joined by community representatives Rudolph Kirby, Glenda Frost, Peter Harvey and Keith Wolahan.

Retired County Court judge and serving board member Frank Shelton will be deputy chair.

The state government has overhauled the parole system on the recommendations of former High Court judge Ian Callinan, who delivered a scathing review of the board's performance after a series of murders committed by parolees.

Until now, the board has been chaired by a sitting Supreme Court judge, most recently Justice Elizabeth Curtain.

Board members are now only allowed to serve a maximum term of nine years, while registered victims must be given at least two weeks' notice of a prisoner's parole release.

The government has changed legislation to automatically cancel parole for serious sex and violent offenders who commit further crimes.

Laws have also been passed making it a crime to breach parole, with a possible jail term added to any other time owing.